Spring has sprung in many parts of the US, and thousands of hives have been rolling across interstate highways during winter months to service a variety of crops in southern and western areas. Springtime in Maine is only weeks away and soon gardeners, farmers and beekeepers will be thinking about planting, blooms, bee management, pollination and the weather.
With all of the recent media … [Read more...]

by Sam(antha) Burns, UME Master Gardener, Somerset Beekeepers President
With National Pollinator Week just around the corner, this is a good time to take a moment to think about all of the creatures who are so crucially important to the diversity of life we experience on this Earth.
Plants and pollinators have evolved together over the last 130 million years; today 80% of the flowering … [Read more...]

In 2010, 621 Maine beekeepers registered 6,975 hives. The registration numbers reflect an increase of approximately 150 hobby beekeepers since 2008. There are more than 1,000 beekeepers with 8,000+ hives estimated in Maine. The estimate is based upon the number of beekeepers who attend beekeeping workshops, the number of individuals enrolled in beekeeping short courses and the current membership … [Read more...]

Foraging is the most important task in the lifetime of the honey bee. As the bee matures, it's duties and responsibilities to the hive change. The foraging is done by the mature bees of more then 3 weeks old. The bees foraging activities such as water gatherers, collecting resin for propolis, nectar and pollen are essential for the survival of the hive.
Of these, pollination perhaps arguably, … [Read more...]